Perambulator.



0. N. TURN ER.

PERAMBULATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1913. 1,140,085. Patented May18,1915.

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0. N. TURNER.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4, I913.

1,140,085. Patented May 18, 1915.

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7n; nurnna PETERS c0. PHOm-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D c,

ORA N. TURNER, OF TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR' TO BAY STATE METAL WHEEL COMPANY, OF TEMPLETON", MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PERAMBULATOR.

7 Specification of LettersPatent. Patented May 18, 1915 Application filed A ril 4, 1913. Serial No. 758,852. 7

To all whom it mdy concern v .Be it known that I, ORA N. TURNER, a citizen of the United. States, and resident of Templeton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perambulators, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to folding peram bulators.

Of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a perambulator embodying the present invention, the same being open for use. Fig. 2 represents a similar elevation, showing the perambulator in a position about half way between full open and full closed positions. Fig. 3 represents a perspective View of that portion of the running frame which is secured to the rear axle. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of a toggle member for supporting the seat. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of a locking member which locks the parts in operative position and which may be used as a handle for carrying the perambulator when closed. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view oflocking members which cooperatewith the device shown by Fig. 5. F1g. 7

represents a perspective view including one end of the locking member shown by Fig. 5, and a toggle plate which connects the structure shown by Fig. 6 with the seatframe. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of the structure included in Fig. 7 with the addition of a portion of structure shown by Fig. 6.

back-rest is indicated at 16, and a handle indicated at 17 is supported by and connects two push-rods such as that indicated at 18. Arm-rests such as that indicated at 19 are supported by levers 20 at the front and levers 21 at the rear. The push-rods 18 are affixed to the levers 21. The pivot 22 connects the front lever 20 with the arm-rest,

and the pivot 23 connects the lever 21 with the arm-rest. Pivots 2 1 and 25 connect the levers "20; and 21 respectivelywith the seat frame 15. For convenience of description the pivot 25 is hereinafter termed the main fulcrum. The seat frame, arm-rests and arm-rest-supporting levers 20 and 21 form a parallelogram which is collapsible in such manner as to enable the levers to swing forparallel relation with the. seat 14;.

The forward portion of the'seat frame issupported by toggle members 26, 27, and

these in turn vare supported by reaches 28 which extend from the front axle to the lower ends of the levers 21. The forward ends of the reaches are aflixed to the front axle, and the rear ends are connected with the levers 21 by pivots 29. y The toggle 26 as shown by Fig. 4 is made ofasingle continuousstrip which is bent to form upright supporting portions 30, 30, and a transverse connecting portion 31.' This member is pivotally connected to the reaches 28 by pivots 32, the transverse portion 31 serving as a strut for bracing thereaches against lateral stress and preserving the desired distance between them. The freeends of the por- 1 tions 30 are connected with the toggles 27 by pivots 33," and the. toggles 27 are con nected with the seat frame by pivots 34:.

The seat-supporting toggles just described are operated 'by the rear levers 21 through the medium of connecting links 35. The rear ends of the links 35 are mounted upon the pivots 29, andthe forward ends are connected by pivots 36 with the toggles 27. When the handle 17 swings. forwardly about the main fulcrum 25, the pivots 29 swing to the rear, thus moving the links 35 to the rear and operating the toggles 26, 27, so as to draw the seat and front wheels toward'each other.

The parts are locked in open position by a locking. member shown separately by Fig. 5. This member .is made from a continuous strip which is-bent to form levers 37 and a transverse connecting portion 38 which serves as a handle. This locking member is connected by pivots 39 with toggle plates 40 (see Fig. 7). Two of these plates of right and left formation are pivotally mounted upon the main fulcrum pivots 25, being provided with ears 41 for such connections.

The plates 40 are connected by pivots 42 with toggle links 43 whose forward endsare preferably connected as shown by Fig. 6. The connection ismade by a transverse'bar M whose ends are bent to form ears 45. These ears are pivotally connected byipivots 46 with the lower ends of the arm-supporting levers 20.

WVhen the handle 17 is swung forwardly toward closed position, the lower ends of the levers 20 swing toward the rear, and this movement is transmitted by the toggle links 48 to the toggle plates 40, which are swung thereby about/the main fulcrum25. This causes an angular movement of the plates 40 relatively to the links 43, and it is by preventing such'relative movement that the locking member shown by Fig. 5 adapted to lock the parts in operative position. For this purposethelocking toggles 43 are extended to the rearbeyond the pivots 4:2 and'are provided with locking studs or projectionsA which are adapted to occupy notches 47 formedin the front edges of the locking levers 37. The parts as shown by Fig. 1 and Fig. 8 are locked, but the releasing'position of the locking member is shown by dotted lines. The locking member is norinally held in looking position by a spring or springs such as that indicated at 4:8. For convenience in mounting the springs, the toggle plates 40 are formed with ears 49 the same being piercedto receive' thesprings' as shown by Fig. 8. The handle 38 of the locking lever is also pierced, as indicated at 50, to receive the springs, which may be hooked'in as shown by'Fig. 8. The cars 49 serve alsoas stops for determining the locking position of the locking member. As shown by Figs. 7 and 8, the forward edges of the portions 37 are against the ears 49. The toggle plates 40 are pr'ovid'ed with ears 51 against which the rear edges'of the portions 37 strike when the locking member is retracted to release the studs 47. As' shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the lockingmember in'its retracted position is against the car '51. The cars 51 facilitatethe desired relative movement of the' toggles 4C3 andtoggle plates 40 when the locking member is a'gainst'the ears. For example, a person'standing behind the perambulator grasps the handle '38 and lifts the same, thereby tipping the perambulator forward and lifting it bodily from the ground. The locking member is thus retracted against the stop 51 and releases the studs 47. By reason of its engagement with the ears, the handle 38 acts as if it were a rigid part of the toggle plates TO, and swings the plates'aboutthe main fulcrum 25 in the direction"corresp'onding'to closing movement ofthe parts. The weight of the push handle 17 and arm-rests acts in conjunction with the stress upon the toggle plates to movethe parts to closed'position.

The grip first taken upon the handle 38 may be retained for the purpose of carrying the perambulator, which automatically folds itself into a compact condition without requiring any other act than that of lifting the handle 38. The opening and locking of the parts is effected automatically by gravity when the perambulator is supported solely bythe handle 17.

When the parts are moved from closed position to operative position, the locking studs -47 traverse the front edges of the lockinglevers'37 and forceithe levers back 'until'thest'iids registerwith'the notches 47. The springs 48 then draw the locking memberiforw'ard, and 'the locking toggles 4'3 and LO thus become automatically locked relatively to each other. I

The-rear'aXle 1-3 is afliXed to a section of the running-frame which is shown in perspective by Fig.8. Thisipart is made of a continuous strip which is bent to form reaches 52 and a transverse connecting por tion 53. The ends of the strip are bent to form ears '54-, which ears rest upon and are riveted or otherwise secured to the axle. This same form of connection is preferably employed for connecting the'front axle and the reaches 28. The front and rearsections of the running frame are connected by brackets 55. Thesebrackets are aflixed to the reaches 28 and are connected'with the reaches 52 by pivots 56. The partsare so disposed thatw'henthe per-ambulator is in operativeposition the transverse connecting portion 53 rests upon the brackets '55,'the parts thus cooperating to ren'der'the front and rear sections "of the running-frame selfs'upporting at the joint. The rear section swings about 'thepivots 56 in such manner that the rear wheels approach the front wheels when the perambulator "is closed, and recede from the front wheels when it is opened. The seat-supportingtoggles and rear section of the running-frame'are connected by links 57, the forward ends of the links being mounted uponthe pivots 33, and the rear ends being connected to the reaches 52 by pivots 58. The tendency of-the framework to fold automatically when the perami bulatoris lifted bythe handle38'isfurther increased by the weight of the rear wheels. Then the perambulator is lifted by the handle 38 the' perambulator assumes a position in 'whichthe rear axle is almost directly over t'he front axle and'in which the reaches "52 are substantially horizontal. TVhile the' perambulator is thus suspended by the 'handle 38, and when the locking parts are unlocked, therea'r wheels act as weights and the reaches 52act as levers using the pivots 56 for their fulcrum for actuating the toggles 26, 27. The folding operation may be readilyunde'rstood byturning the sheet bearing Fig. 2 so that the handle 38 is at the top. The weight of the push handle and the arm-rests acting through the medium of the levers 21 and links cooperates with the weight of the rear wheels acting through the reaches 52 and links 57 to causethe desired movement of the toggles 26 and 27.

When the perambulator is fully closed, the rear axle engages the reaches 28, and the seat frame approaches the reaches 28 so closely that it is separated therefrom only by the ears 45. The rear wheels do not touch the front wheels, because the length of-the reaches 52 from thepivots 56 to the rear axle is too short to permit the wheels to touch. The wheels are operative forsupporting and for enabling the perambulator .to roll when it is closed as well as when it is open. If it is set upon its wheels when closed, the reaches 28 bear directly upon the rear axle, and the superstructure is thus rigidly supported and the wheels left free to turn.

I claim:

1. A folding perambulator comprising wheel axles, frame elements fastened respectively to said axles and connected to each other by a pivotal joint arranged to enable said axles to move toward and from each other, jointed elements carried by said frame elements, and a seat carried by said jointed elements, said jointed elements being connected to said frame elements by pivot connections arranged to cause bodily movement of said seat toward said frame elements as said axles move toward each other.

2. A folding perambulator having wheel axles movable toward and from each other, a folding running frame connecting said axles, and folding seat-supporting means connected to said frame so as to fold in unison therewith, said frame being arranged to move said seat-supporting means bodily toward said axles as said axles approach each other.

3. A folding perambulator having wheel axles movable toward and from each other, a folding running frame connecting said axles, and folding seat-supporting means pivotally connected to said means so as to be folded and moved bodily toward said axles-by said running frame as said axles approach each other.

4. A folding perambulator comprising a running frame having front and rear sections and wheel axles secured respectively to said sections, said frame being capable of folding to move said axles toward each other, and foldin seat-supporting means connected to said rent and rear sections so as to be moved bodily toward said axles as said axles approach each other.

5. A folding perambulator comprising a running frame having front and rear sections and, wheel axles secured respectively to said sections, said sections being relatively movable to carry said axles toward and from each other, and folding seat-supporting means connected to said front and rear sections to be folded into more compact form and moved bodily toward said axles as said axles approach each other. I

6. A folding perambulator comprising a folding running frame having front and rear sections including wheel axles, said sec: tions being movably connected so that the axles are movable toward and from each other, a seat, folding seat-supporting means mounted exclusively upon one of saidrun by folding movement of said'running frame for operating said toggles.

8. A folding perambulator comprising a V folding running frame consisting of front and rear sections, said sections having front and rear axles respectively, a seat, seat-supporting toggles mounted exclusively upon one of said running frame sections, and means connecting said toggles with the other of said running frame sections for causing the toggles and running frame to collapse 1n unison.

9. A folding perambulator comprising a folding running frame consisting of relatively movable sections, a seat, seat-supporting toggles pivotally connected to one sec-' tion of the running frame, and means connecting the other section of the running frame and said toggles for positioning the toggle joints substantially in alinement with each other when the perambulator is in operative position.

10. A folding perambulator comprising a folding running frame, a seat, seat-support ing toggles mounted on said running frame,

and means for holding the intermediate joint of said toggles substantially in alinement with the outer toggle joints when the running frame is in operative position.

11. A folding perambulator comprising a folding runningframe consisting of front and rear sections havin front and rear wheels respectively, sai sections being pivotally connected on a. transverse axis which is farther from the nearest point of the front wheels than from the farthest point of the rear Wheels, Wherebythe rear Wheels may be arranged to track With the front Wheels Without touching the same When-said frame is folded.

12. A folding perambulator comprising a folding running frame consistingof front and rear sections pivotally connected on a transverse axis, a seat frame, toggles for supportingsaid seat frame, said toggles being pivotally connectedto said running frame in front of'said axles, and means connecting said running frame "and said toggles for causing them to fold in unison.

13. A folding perambulator comprising a folding running frame, a seat, seat-supporting toggles pivotally mounted on said frame so as to renderthe seat bodily movable with relation'to the running frame, means connecting said running frame and toggles for causing them to fold in unison, and'means for locking the toggles and running frame in operative position.

14. A folding perambulator comprising a seat frame, folding means for supporting said frame, arms and supports therefor pivoted to the seat frame and connected to said seat-supporting means'so as to fold there- With, toggle members pivotally connected to said seat frame and arm supports so as to fold in unison'with said arm supports and seat-supporting means, and means for locking said toggle members relatively to each other,'Whereby said arm supports and seatsupporting means are locked in operative position.

15. A folding perambulator comprising Wheel axles, a seat, folding seat-supporting means carried bysaid aXles, means arranged to lock said seat-supporting means in oper ative position, and a handle carried by said locking means, said locking means being arranged to unlock said seat-supporting means in consequence of lifting said perambulators by said handles, and said seat-supporting means being arranged to fold automatically in consequence of lifting said perambulator by said handle as aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

IHARLES A. I-lmwvoon, FRED E. DEPINET.

Copies'ofthispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 13. 0.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,140,085, granted May 18,

1915, upon the application of Ora N. Turner, of Templeton, Massachusetts, for

an improvement in Perambulators, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 11, for the word axles read axis;

same page, line 44:, for the Word handles read handle; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of June, A. D., 1915.

[emu] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.. 

